It’s the day of throwbacks. I previewed Double Dragon and reviewed Jagged Alliance on the same day in 2023 – both games with a long history, and it has been a while for both to get a new mainline title. True, Jagged Alliance wins this one hands down since the last entry was in 1999 – but does that mean that Jagged Alliance 3 is stuck in the past? Let’s hope not and dive in – mercenary style!
For those unfamiliar with the ‘Jagged Alliance’ series, I’ll do a quick rundown of its history before I dive into the third entry. I played both Jagged Alliance and Jagged Alliance 2 – but I didn’t play all the side games published in 2000 and above (I did play the ‘DLC’ releases of JA2, though). So what’s this series about?
Jagged Alliance!
The Jagged Alliance games revolve around controlling mercenary squads strategically, both on and off the field, to carry out various missions like freeing nations from oppressive dictators. These games include turn-based battle simulations, 4X elements (explore, expand, exploit, and exterminate), and role-playing. The series’ trademark humor comes from the spoken comments of the characters. The mercenaries’ personalities range from slightly eccentric to disturbed, contrasting with the games’ setting closely related to topics like war and death.
Every mercenary is an individual with unique traits. Part of the strategy involves the player’s freedom to select a versatile team to win the game in different ways. Not every team works, though. For instance, Ivan and his nephew Igor work well together but are despised by Steroid, the Polish bodybuilder. Buns, a Danish marksman, detests Fox, a medic with centerfold looks. In contrast, Fox enjoys working with Grizzly, on whom she has a bit of a crush. The mercenaries are randomly determined to various tasks, so each game’s available character pool is never the same.
Maintaining a reputation is crucial in the Jagged Alliance games. If the player gets their troops killed often, hires and dismisses members frequently, or is generally insensitive (like not paying for deceased merc body shipments back home), their reputation will suffer. A bad player’s reputation affects all mercenaries. Mercs may demand a significant pay raise to consider working for the player. Mercenaries may quit unless the player discreetly pays them a bonus. Only desperate-for-work mercs will agree to work for really notorious players.
Jagged Alliance 3
So, fast forward to 2023, and we got our hands on Jagged Alliance 3, in which the fictional country of Grand Chien has been in chaos following the kidnapping of its president by a rogue paramilitary force known as “the Legion.” With their remaining resources, the president’s family hires a group of elite mercenaries from the Adonis Corporation, who will attempt to rescue the president and bring order to the country.
Jagged Alliance 3 follows the same gameplay style as previous versions. The game is played from an isometric viewpoint, and it’s turn-based, which means the player gives orders to a team of mercenaries. Each member of the team has a unique personality and backstory. There are 40 mercenaries, including returning characters like Vicki Waters, Ivan Dolvich, and Fidel Dahan. However, some of these characters may seem stereotypical, which might not be appropriate in 2023. I picked a balanced team with a Medic, Marksman, Mechanic, and Explosives expert. My team was a mix between the Terminator and Duke Nukem, The White Death, April from TMNT as a Medic, and an explosive enthusiast. Sadly, my team talked a lot but had poor accuracy, much like the Stormtroopers from Star Wars. Luckily it wasn’t because I didn’t have that much money; it’s just how Jagged Alliance builds up its gameplay.
In Jagged Alliance, you can customize your weapons and aim at specific body parts of enemies. Enemies can be looted for resources. An exciting feature is the dynamic campaign map, which gives more information about turn-based battles and how enemy forces react as they try to retake territories. You can scout the base from a vantage point, use a backdoor and listen to enemies talking, or go in guns blazing – it’s up to you. You’ll gain intel that unlocks additional side missions and opportunities as you progress. Leveling up your mercenaries unlocks new skills and abilities, enhancing your experience.
Steam Deck versus PC
I reviewed and played Jagged Alliance 3 on my Steam Deck, and I don’t recommend playing it that way. Although the game ran smoothly and was untested at the moment I played it on my Deck; there are a lot of texts, shortcuts, and details that can be hard to navigate on a small screen. Playing on a larger screen with a wireless keyboard and mouse may be more enjoyable, which is how the game is intended to be played. Jagged Alliance 3 has a lot of intricate models and details that interact with each other, making gameplay more enjoyable. I had to learn some of these details on my Deck, something simple like using bandages, before I could fully enjoy the game. This game is aimed at hardcore fans who want games like XCOM, Heart of Iron, and Civ – just be sure to bring a mouse and keyboard for the best experience.
Conclusion
So, to conclude! Jagged Alliance 3 is a great game, but it feels a bit dated due to the use of some stereotypical personae for their mercs. I understand this is the whole stick for the series, but I don’t know how well it will hold up in 2023. The gameplay and story are pretty hardcore and can be unforgivable, which sometimes feels a bit punishing if you don’t know how to manage your funds correctly. An excellent addition for the fans of the genre and the series, but not that welcoming for new players to the Jagged Alliance series. My rating might have been higher if I had played this on a PC, so keep that in mind.
